Blum and the Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS, Ohio Considering Jonathon Blum’s strange tie-ins with the Columbus Blue Jackets, you’d have to think one of his parents or great grand parents were born in this city.

The Predators’ defenseman, who hails from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., was drafted here in 2007, made his NHL debut here last February, and scored his first NHL goal against the Blue Jackets later in the season.

After today’s morning skate, defenseman Kevin Klein joked that Blum would score his first hat-trick tonight.

“That would be nice against Columbus too,” Blum quipped back.

But in all sincerity, pretty much all of Blum’s NHL firsts have come against this team. Tonight he will partake in his first NHL season opener against the Blue Jackets.

“Everything revolves around Columbus and the Blue Jackets,” Blum said.